House Unanimously Votes to End the One-Cent Coin

The House of Representatives voted unanimously on Monday to stop making the one-cent coin forever. This bipartisan move sends the smallest piece of U.S. currency to history after 232 years. The Treasury expects to save $56 million every year once the mint stops producing pennies. The vote passed the Common Cents Act with no opposition from either party.

The U.S. Mint already halted production of the penny in November 2025, according to reports. This decision ended a long run of circulation that began over two centuries ago. The cost to make a single penny has risen to more than three times its face value. Taxpayers have been funding this loss for years without any clear benefit.

The Bill and Its Rounding Rules

Representatives Lisa McClain and Robert Garcia led the effort to pass this legislation in the House. The bill blocks the Treasury from minting new pennies except for special collector coins. It also sets up a system where cash transactions round to the nearest five cents. This rule removes the need for pennies in daily shopping and change.

An important exception exists for cash wages, which must round up if not divisible by five cents. Existing pennies will remain legal tender for now, per the Fox News report. The bill also allows the Mint to make nickels using cheaper materials to cut costs further. Congress will watch how this affects low-income families and older consumers closely.

President Donald Trump must sign the bill into law for it to take full effect. An act of Congress ensures a future administration cannot easily reverse this decision on the penny. The House already passed a similar bill before, but this version adds the crucial rounding language. That earlier law lacked the rules needed to handle cash payments without the small coin.

The Treasury stated the savings would be immediate once the change takes hold. The cost of production has been a heavy drain on government funds for a long time.

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